The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-09-24

In the fall of 1866 l was employed as
clerk in general store at cross
roads in Southern Indiana. The store,
Il church and blacksmith shop, with
residences, made up the buildings, and
the families of the merchant and black
smith were the only residents. The
country about was quickly settled up
on, however, and trade was always
good. Before the merchant engaged
he announced that l would have to
sleep in the store nights, and that un-
less | had pluck enough to defend the
place against marauders he did not
want me at any price. He showed me
a shot gun, revolver and spring
gun, which were used, or on hand to
be used to defend the place, and the
windows were protected with stout
blinds and the doors by double locks.
The close of the war had driftcd bad
population into Indiana. The high
ways were full of trampS, and there
were hundreds of men who had deter
mined to make living by some other
means than labor. Several attempts
had been made to rob the store,
and it had come to that pass that
no clerk wanted to sleep there
alone. The merchant seemed satisfied
with the answers ! gave him, and on a
certain Monday morning went to
work. That same night store about
four miles off was broken into, and
robbed and the clerk seriously wound
ed. Two nights later three horses were
stolen in our neighborhood, At the
end of the week farmer who was on
his way from our store was robbed on
the highway. If | had not been a light
sleeper from habit these occurrences
would have tended topreventt too lengthy
dreams as lay in my little bedroom at
the front of the seuond story. The re-
volyer was always placed under my
pillow and the shotgun stood within
reach. The spring-gun was set about
midway of the floor. 1t was double
barreled shotgun, each barrel contain
ing big charge of buck-shot, and the
man who kicked the string and dis
charged the weapon would never know
what hurt him. 1t did not seem pos
sible that any one could break into the
store without arousing me. There was
no door to my room, and after the peo-
pie in the neighborhood had gone to
bed could hear the slighte st noise in
the store. had looked the place over
for a weak spot and had failed to find
it, but my own confidence came near
proving my destruction. l should
have told you, in describing the store,
that just over the spot where we sci
the spring-gun was an opening through
= which we hoisted and lowered such
goods as were stored for time on the
second floor. When not in use this
opening was covered by a trap door.
Toward evening on the tenth day OF
my clerkship, l hoisted up a lot of pals
and tubs. and had just finished when
trade became so brisk that was called
to wait on customers. Later on l saw
that l had left the trap-door open, and
/ said to myself that | would let it 90
until l went to bed. The store had the
only burglar-pro f safe for miles
around, and it WAS customary for the
farmer who had one hundred dollars
or so, TO leave it with us. He received
an envelope in which to inclose it, and
he could take out and put in as hi
liked. On this evening four or five
farmers came in to deposit, and, as
afterwari figured up, we had about
1880 in the safe.
There were two strange faces in the
crowd thu evening. One belonged to
roughly -,r, SD, ev.i-eyed man. who